FINAL BILL REPORT

                2ESHB 1967

                         C 184 L 96

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Increasing penalties for repeat violations of vehicle licensing requirements.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Romero, Robertson, R. Fisher, K. Schmidt, Tokuda, Chopp, Patterson, Regala, Hatfield, Wolfe, Cole, Dellwo, Valle and Ogden).

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:  Currently, trucks that are not licensed in this state may obtain trip permits from the Department of Licensing (DOL).  A trip permit allows a vehicle to travel within the state for three consecutive days.  The vehicle must be within the legal weight limits.  Current law restricts the use of trip permits to three per vehicle per month.

For the first offense of misusing a trip permit, the penalty is twice the amount of excise tax that is legally owed, plus up to one year in the county jail.  For second and subsequent offenses, the penalty is three times the amount of the excise tax, plus up to one year in jail.

Summary:  The fines for vehicle licensing fraud are raised from three times the taxes and fees owed to four times the taxes and fees owed.  The excise taxes and registration fees are deposited in the same manner as if the taxes and fees were properly paid.  The incremental increase in fines for evading proper payment of vehicle and vessel taxes and fees is deposited in the vehicle licensing fraud account.

Trip permits for recreational vehicles are limited to two per year.  DOL is directed to explore the feasibility of a system allowing persons to apply for and receive trip permits electronically.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     96 0

Senate    48 0 (Senate amended)

House     94 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  June 6, 1996

       January 1, 1997  (Sections 1-6)